Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton joined ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday and gave some insight into his continued recovery from his 2025 Achilles tear.
Haliburton said that he will be “full go” for Indiana’s team minicamp in a few weeks.
Advertisement
He recounted how he had gotten to the point that he was playing 5-on-5 basketball, but then was diagnosed with shingles. After being shut down for three weeks, he returned to 5-on-5 play with no further setbacks.
Haliburton suffered a torn Achilles tendon on June 22, 2025, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The injury caused him to miss the entirety of the 2025-2026 NBA season. When asked how the injury has been impacting his return to the court, he joked, “Defensively, I could tell I was a step behind. I’m not a great defender already. I’m playing against interns and I’m like, ‘why is this guy fighting me here a little bit.’”
Advertisement
He continued by talking about the progress he has made on offense. “It’s the process of planting and turning,” he said. “Offensively, when I am in control of my movement, I feel great. Defensively, reacting to others, that’s where it is going to get better as time goes on.”
The Pacers finished this season with a dismal 19-63 record, second-worst in NBA, besting only the 17-win Washington Wizards.
